The Rescue of Soredamer

(A/N: Second up today. Pretty well straight action.)

Alexander and Lot sailed the coast quietly in a small fishing boat they'd, uh, 'borrowed', from the Arendellian docks. What? It wasn't like anyone was around to use the boats anymore. Right now, it was of far more use to them than it was to any Arendellian citizen, none of which remained here anymore anyway. They hugged the shore, sailing with the wind or the current as quietly as they could, only rarely using the poles to push the craft along. Lot was in the bow, Alexander in the stern. Lot's narrowed eyes scanned the coastline gradually for any sign of a potential smuggler's den. He doubted the cave itself would be easy to spot immediately, but a large cove was needed to house a ship, and once they found that cove, it would only be a matter of time.

"There," Lot said, eying a bend in the coastline that curved inland more. Alexander pushed the boat toward it with his pole before sitting and letting the little vessel drift into the cove. They beached it early, hauling it as far out of the water and out of sight as they could before continuing forward on foot, creeping along the beach and cliffs silently, swords at the ready.

Alexander's eyes were fixed on the cavern wall searching frantically for the opening. Thoughts of what his wife had suffered during her imprisonment sickened him to the stomach. This hadn't been supposed to happen, and he should have chewed Sir Kay out for failing to do his job and protect her, but he hadn't. Kay had already beaten himself up about it enough on his own. After they'd driven off the enemy in Arendelle with Hans, Kay had been the last of them to show up again. That told him that his friend had absolutely dreaded facing them and telling them what had happened. The guy had always hated to fail. Failure had always been hard for Sir Kay to swallow, which was just heartbreaking because of how often he'd done it. He hadn't needed it rubbed in his face further, in fact if not for his duty to Hans and Elsa Kay probably would have gone after Soredamer himself to try and make it right, so Alexander had refrained from calling him out. Clearly Lot had as well. Dammit, where was that opening…?

Suddenly he stopped. That rock seemed out of place… He frowned and approached it warily. He pushed it a little. Nothing. He pushed it more. It didn't move. He frowned and gritted his teeth, preparing to shove with everything he had, but just then Lot came up beside him and joined him. He paused, giving the man a grateful nod, and this time with both of their strength combined, the third push caused the stone to move. Only slightly, but it moved. "Three, two, one," Alexander said. He and Lot pushed together again. It moved further. "Three, two, one," Alexander said again. They pushed once more, and this time they were able to roll the stone away from a large entryway hidden behind it that led into a deep cave.

The two peered into the cave lit by torches and lanterns. "Good eyes," Lot praised as they scanned the cave.

"Not an ideal place to be if they come from both sides," Alexander noted wryly.

"You've gotten that rusty?" Lot half-teased.

Alexander smirked. "I'm worried for you, old man," he replied without looking at him.

Lot snorted a laugh, a wry smirk pulling at his lips. "Afraid you'll fall behind and not have me there to save you? Don't worry, I won't go far," he answered. He entered the cave, drawing his sword from its sheath and carefully, silently, making his way into it. Alexander followed him closely. They crept along in silence until the tunnel opened into a wide cavern. They hugged the walls on either side and peered carefully out, searching for any lookouts or guards patrolling the area. It seemed clear. Alexander slipped out first, creeping towards some rocks and peering over them at the underground bay. Ships floated there that couldn't have come through the tunnel they just had, though they were relatively small. That meant there was another way in. He frowned a bit at that revelation. It could mean problems for them, but they'd have to see. In the middle of the underwater bay, there was an island. Alexander bristled, eyes widening a bit. On that island were cages, hanging or on the ground, filled with captives from Arendelle! His wife was among them somewhere… Men, women, and children were all separated out, probably sorted further by value to the smugglers. They would be of no value at all to dead men, Alexander darkly thought.

He beckoned for Lot to join him. Lot did so quickly and peered over. The man's gaze darkened murderously. The states the prisoners in the cages were in told them more than they wanted to know. "How do we play this?" Alexander whispered. "Layout is advantageous. Two of the biggest ships are docked and linked together by planks between themselves, this side of the lake, and the island. Like a bridge almost. What's our best approach do you think?"

Lot chuckled somewhat menacingly before standing right up and, to Alexander's disbelief, walking towards the bay with little to no thought. The younger man gaped in disbelief, trying to figure out what the hell his companion was doing. Men on board the ships started to take notice of the approaching stranger and lined the sides, glaring down at Lot. "Who goes there?!" one of the smugglers, pirates, whatever, shouted out. Why the didn't just shoot, Alexander couldn't pretend to know.

Lot paused. "The father of one of your prisoners. I've come to get my daughter back. And I'll be taking all the others too." The smugglers stared at him like he was insane. Alexander winced and ducked down low. Ooh, he was starting to get it now. When Lot took that attitude, you were already finished. "You gain gold, or you gain death. Your choice," Lot threw out as almost an afterthought. Here they went, Alexander dryly thought.

Frozen

For a long moment there was a tense standoff. The men eventually began to darkly chuckle, though there was a hint of unease among them. After all, no one in their right mind would face smugglers and pirates so directly and display such little fear unless they were either insane, or genuinely believed they could take the odds on. The former was preferable. The stranger facing them down carried himself as if it were the latter instead.

Just then footsteps were heard coming down the cave. Alexander turned with a gasp in time to see a man—the manner he was dressed in betrayed he was their leader, and his features were those of the eastern Asian lands—hurry down the cave and come out into the cavern followed by no insignificant amount of men, all armed to the teeth. Their eyes fell on him and he was pretty sure he was going to have to go on the offensive, but to his surprise the leader glanced away pretending like he hadn't even seen him there.

"Well, well, what have we here?" the man asked darkly. Lot was still for a moment before smirking bitterly and chuckling a bit. He turned his head towards the pirate chief and his force of men, a dangerous look in his eyes. He pursed his lips. It wasn't escaped by Lot that they couldn't have possibly missed seeing Alexander. Nor did it escape him that this pirate leader was choosing to say nothing of the matter. What that implied, he wasn't sure. For now, he focused on his plan as was.

"A ruler of a foreign land seeking his daughter. Taken captive by you and yours," Lot answered. "And I'm not leaving without her. Her or any other captive you've gathered here."

"No?" the pirate leader asked threateningly.

"You gain gold, or you gain death," Lot replied.

"Hmm… What is your daughter worth to you?" the man asked. Lot didn't grace him with an answer. "Goes without saying, does it? You claim you're a ruler of a foreign land. An important one?"

"A Duke, for all that's worth to you," Lot answered. He glanced at the rock where Alexander hid. "But my daughter's husband is a King. An Emperor, depending on who you ask."

Alexander started and looked momentarily enraged and annoyed. What the hell?! "Is he as pleasurable as his wife?" one of the men on board the ship asked. He was shot dead the next second, though not by Lot. By the pirate leader, to Lot's blatant shock. And Alexander's.

The pirate, in that moment, looked enraged before his wrath cooled somewhat. He looked to Lot again, then to his smugglers and pirates. "Who else has taken liberties without my permission?" he darkly asked. No one answered. "I will ask the prisoners, if I have to. One way or another you'll be found out. Whether you die slowly or quickly is all the difference it will make." Not even a stir. "Whoever hasn't, or claims not to have, get down here and join me. We'll take you for a walk to the cages and see how many were honest." Immediately men and the occasional woman—there weren't many, but there were some—moved to join him. Others stayed put. The pirate moved passed Lot, who stayed still, and walked the group up the plank, across the ships bridged together, then down the plank on the other side onto the island. They were led to the cages filled with terrified prisoners huddled in fear. Alexander peered over his rocks and shot Lot an accusing look.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he mouthed. Lot rolled his eyes. Alexander scowled and had half a mind to walk out there and confront him, but just then Lot subtly pointed towards the little island where the captives were being kept. Alexander started, catching on. Lot was acting as a distraction. He set his jaw, nodding, then slipped quickly out of hiding while the pirates and smugglers were distracted. He waded into the water, grimacing at the chill, and dove beneath the surface, swimming towards said island. He'd be lucky if he didn't catch hypothermia doing this, he bitterly noted to himself. But whatever happened to him while pulling off this rescue mission with Lot, it was for Soredamer's sake. For that reason he could frankly care less if he never got out of here, either because of death or because of captivity. Just as long as she did. He would not have his wife suffer here a moment longer than she already had…

The pirate blew a whistle, shortly after Alexander slipped under the water, summoning all the men in the cave into his sight. He gestured to them, saying something to the prisoners. Eventually he sent some of his cohorts back to the ships and beckoned for others who had remained to join him on the ground. Soon after, he returned with the latter group to his place at the mouth of the cave, walking wordlessly by Lot again, who remained still and patient. The pirate turned around once more and seemed a bit startled when he noticed the missing infiltrator. Again, though, he didn't comment, though some of his men who also had seen the second stranger began to murmur amongst themselves uneasily.

"I'll make you a deal, ruler of… where was it again?" the pirate asked.

Lot's jaw twitched a bit. "Orkney," he answered.

"Now that seems doubtful," the pirate replied.

"I hold Dutchy over some isolated colonies located on the islands," Lot stated, not backing down. "And wield a great deal of political influence. More than would have naturally come to one of my station. The power I gained, I worked for. My connections stretch even as far as the Arabia's."

"And what of this…" the pirate began, glancing over at where Alexander had been before looking to Lot one more. "Son-in-law of yours. A king, you claim? Of where?"

"Greece," Lot answered. "He rules the Grecian Islands."

"You share a penchant for islands, the two of you," the pirate wryly noted. His eyes went where Alexander had been again, then back to Lot. "Would the young King be willing to be the price paid for his wife's freedom?"

"There's little he would not be willing to do for her. Theirs wasn't a marriage of political gain," Lot answered. "Is such the deal you wish to strike? By all means, humor me."

"Your son-in-law for your daughter," he answered.

"A price I'm willing enough to pay if he is. My concern is over the rest of the citizens," Lot answered.

"Take the children and the elderly at no extra cost! The old are past their prime and of little use to us. You must wait too long for children to grow and develop, for them to have any use as labor," he said. The rest stay. I need to turn a profit somehow, after all," the pirate said.

"Hmm… a fair enough bargain. I have a fairer one still," Lot replied.

"Oh?" the pirate somewhat menacingly said.

"You give them all to me, and I spare you your miserable lives. At least the ones who did no harm to them," Lot answered.

Silence hung in the air. "One man versus the many surrounding you down here? You've lost your senses," the pirate answered.

"Test me," Lot challenged. "Where is my daughter?" Silence met the question. "Where is my daughter?!" Lot shouted sharply, advancing a step. Guns were immediately drawn on him. He paused. "If you think they'll stop me, you're wrong," he darkly warned.

"Oh?" the pirate replied.

"You think I would have infiltrated a smugglers den like this if I didn't know for a certainty that I could accomplish my mission?" Lot replied. Silence. "If you order them to shoot me, your life and the lives of your 'innocent' men will be forfeit. Whether you desire it or not, I'm taking the captives back to their homes."

Frozen

Alexander crept onto the island. He'd lingered in the water, hiding waist deep behind more rocks, until the pirate had taken his men back across the lake and returned to his previous position. At that point, Alexander slipped out. The captives noticed and let out hopeful, subtle gasps, eyes fixed on him. He got to work on the locks of the children's cages. He scanned the faces of the women perpendicular to them as he did so. His heart sunk. None of them were his wife… So where was she? Was she one of a choice few who had been stored somewhere special? Had they singled her out because of the prowess she'd displayed in battle? What were they doing to her? What had they already done? Torture, he fearfully thought? He wished he could banish that image the minute he had it, but he knew that torture was, in fact, very likely what they'd done.

Was she still alive…?

That thought hit him like a punch to the gut and he worked even faster on the locks but was making no progress. He cursed. They should have brought flipping Raynold. Agravaine would have been better, but Agravaine hadn't been selected. Raynold had. Raynold was almost as good at lockpicking anyway, and it wasn't like these locks were particularly complex. Just more complex than he could deal with.

He frowned, glancing up at the men on board, looked at the fearful children who stared at him with so much hope, then grimaced and turned once more away from them. "I'll be back," he whispered before creeping towards the ships. He snuck up the first plank as quietly as he could, drawing his dagger. He paused and moved suddenly and quickly, seizing and covering the mouth of one of the men on board who was already slated for death. Hey, just one less they'd have to deal with later. It wasn't that he relished taking the life, he told himself as the knife cut neatly across the throat, he never had liked killing, but there were no other options for getting those cages open. It wasn't like he could walk up to one of these thieves and smugglers and ask casually to borrow the keys. He pulled the body out of sight and looted it for the key before quickly retreating to the cages and getting to work on the locks, unfastening them. The children made to hurry out.

"Shh, shh, not yet," he whispered urgently. "Not yet. Your parents will join you soon, I promise, but don't come out yet." They whimpered quietly but obeyed. Alexander quickly made his way to the women next, hurriedly unlocking the cages as Lot kept the pirates' and smugglers' attention on him. "Come on, come on," he whispered. The last lock came off. They looked frantically at him, terrified. "Get to your children," he ordered before hurrying to the men and all but throwing himself at their cages, unlocking them as quickly as he could as the women hurried to any children that may or may not be theirs. Ones who had no little ones stayed put. Once the men were released, they too hurried to their children and wives, considering they had living ones. Again, the men who didn't have children present either stayed put or crossed to their significant others held on the opposite side of the little island from them. Couples in turn went to join any children who had no parents present or who had lost their own. Fortunately, there weren't many of those. That was something of a blessing, at least. Alexander turned attention again to the boats, drawing his sword, and quietly, carefully snuck back up the plank and crouched in position, waiting for Lot's cue to act.

Frozen

"Who are you?" the pirate leader warily asked, eyes narrowed at Lot.

"I've told you who I am," Lot replied.

"Your name," the pirate specified.

"Unimportant. What's important is your telling me where my daughter is then walking out of here," Lot answered. "Keep whatever plunder you took, but you'll give me my daughter and the captives."

The pirate's jaw twitched. "If you can defeat all of my men on those ships, then you've earned them," he finally relented. He tossed his head for the others to leave. Uneasily they did so, hurrying out of the cave. The pirate leader looked back at the stranger in their midst. "Alone," he repeated with emphasis. Lot's jaw twitched. Fine. That would give Alexander time to round up all the captives, including any that may have been hidden. More importantly, it would give his son-in-law time to find Soredamer. The pirate leader turned and left with his other men, and women, leaving Lot alone.

Lot looked towards the ships. "You heard him! Alone!" he called out, knowing Alexander would realize it was him he was speaking to rather than the crew marked for death. "Leave the men to me," he muttered quietly to himself, drawing his sword and advancing on the ship. He saw the alarmed pirates and smugglers go for their weapons and broke into a rapid run, pulling out a shield and holding it out in front of himself, keeping low behind it. It wouldn't last long against the bullets, but it would buy him the time he needed to close the distance and start slicing.

Frozen

Alexander, hearing Lot's emphasis on 'alone', got the hint. He frowned, not approving of the idea, but nonetheless slipped back down the plank and returned to the prisoners. "There was a woman among you. She fought against the onslaught to try and defend Arendelle," he said, hoping it would be enough to spark their memory.

"She was brought before us bound and struggling," a woman spoke up. "They had gagged her and blindfolded her as well. They threw her down then pulled her to her knees and tore her clothing apart. Tore it to rags. She was to be 'made an example of' they claimed. They began to heckle and taunt her and beat her with whips and sticks and rocks until she couldn't stay up any longer and collapsed half dead at their feet. They took her and brought her away to the ships. What they did with her afterwards… They hinted what they would do to her in their taunts and jabs as they beat her."

The response was vague, but he got the gist. "Son of a…" he began before trailing off on noticing the wide-eyed stares of the little children. He bit back the last word. He frowned, looking over them again. "Which ship?" he asked.

"One of the ones far out in the lake," a man answered, pointing to one of the more distant ships. Accessing it was going to be a pain, but what needed to be done. He headed for the water quickly. "Their best men, their most elite, are on board," the man cautioned in concern. "Apparently she was a prize worthy of only them. Others argued she was a prize worthy only of Xe, their leader, but those that argued were informed that Xe had no inclinations towards properly enjoying her."

Alexander froze, body bristling, then scowled and dove into the lake, swimming immediately for the ship and damning the Nordic chill. He reached the ship in not long and drew a dagger. He held it between his teeth so he could climb but still have it ready to go in case he happened to climb up and immediately be met by one of these 'elite'. He swam around until he found the anchor rope, then seized it and began to climb cursing every second of the little expedition. He was an Emperor for goodness sakes! He was supposed to be lounging in a palace on the Greek Islands enjoying the beauty of his empire and relishing in the waters and cliffs and sights and cultures of the Byzantines. Then again, he was also supposed to be in the Dark Ages or Avalon right now too, so he supposed he had no grounds for complaint.

He peered over the railing and swung onto it, carefully scanning the deck. In the distance, he heard the sound of guns firing and swords clashing. He looked back and saw Lot had made his way onto the ship's decks and was faring remarkably well against his opponents, using meat shields where need be and whirling from one to the next like the natural that he was. With luck, he'd have the same fortune with the elite. He frowned, looking towards the cabin then to the brig. Which place was more likely for Soredamer to be? He frowned and headed towards the brig first. He snuck down into it. Water could be heard lapping against the sides of the ship and items shifting with the movement of the boat. He pressed deeper into it, peering into the cells. His stomach clenched when he fount his wife's torn, bloodied clothing. He didn't need to see more to know he'd picked the wrong place to start looking. He turned and hurried out of the brig, going immediately towards the cabin with eyes narrowed murderously and sword drawn now, along with the dagger. He peered through a window carefully and rage boiled inside of him. A group of men were seated there playing card games and drinking. Bound to a bed in the back was his beaten and tortured wife, burns and lashes and bruises and gashes decorating her body. Her every drawn breath shuddered with pain. She was in anguish, and he nearly lost all composure.

He spun out of sight of the window, took a few deep, fast, calming breaths, and began to count down. His plan was brazen and would probably get him killed, but if it did, he was taking all the rest of those people in there down with him, say for Soredamer. Sword, check; dagger, check; armor, check; common sense, uncheck. But who needed that right now? Three, two, one!

He gritted his teeth and threw open the door, racing inside in a blind fury. They barely had time to look up and react, let alone register what had just darted into their midst, before he was cutting them down. Three were dead before the rest even knew to move. Four more were gone before they had the opportunity to draw their weapons.

"Alexander!" he heard his wife scream, but he was in a frenzy at the moment, so her voice sounded far away and hazy. He blocked the mutual attacks of two more elites before ducking down and dodging around, letting them fall forward and taking the opportunity to end them both at the same time and get up his weapons to block yet another attack. He saw the dagger in his side before he felt it. He felt the one in his shoulder blades before he registered the pain. At the moment, they were little more than nuisances. He got rid of the man who he was blocking, the same one who had stabbed his side, then turned to face the one drawing the dagger from his back and going for his throat. He threw up his arm, letting the knife pierce through it and biting back a scream of pain so savagely that he immediately tasted copper. He jerked his arm back, taking the dagger out of the man's hand, then yanked it from his arm and drove it into the man's heart before spinning, blocking another attacker, the kneeing the attacker in the groin, causing him to double over. He plunged his sword through the back. He felt a sword in his own back and gasped out a cry. It wasn't a deep wound, his armor prevented that, but it wasn't insignificant either, and it stumbled him. Damn he was rusty. And getting careless. He was brought down to the ground. He heard his wife crying his name more clearly now. He saw her thrashing and struggling against her bonds to try and get to him to help him. He must look a mess. He scowled and seized a blunt object, swinging it back and hitting his attacker in the head before rolling over and finishing him as well.

He fell over the man panting for breath, exhausted now that the adrenaline had worn off. His body screamed in anguish and he had to fight to keep from crying out or sobbing from the pain. He gulped in air and got shakily off of the man and onto his knees, panting for breath and suddenly aware of how badly he was bleeding. Oh he dreaded to see. They'd gotten a few good strikes. He sucked in another breath of air, aware of how hard it was to breathe. Dammit, had a lung been punctured? He hadn't been stabbed in the chest, right? He didn't remember that. Maybe it was just hard to breathe because of all the emotions he was feeling right now. He staggered to his feet and turned quickly to his wife who watched him in tears, lips parted in awe and desperation. He crossed swiftly to her and fell next to her, furiously slashing through the restraints and pulling her up and into her arms. She broke down, falling against him and clinging to him tightly. He held her close and silent, staring numbly ahead at the blank wall in front of him. Here was hoping Lot had cleared out the bulk of the forces. Here was hoping Lot was still moving. He didn't dare say 'breathing'. He couldn't handle that concept right now.

Frozen

Lot threw aside the shield when it lost all functionality and vaulted over some crates on deck, kicking one of the pirates down then falling on him, ending his life fast. He dodged behind the crates again as bullets peppered them, then grabbed up the body and charged a couple of others in close proximity to each other. A bullet went through the body and struck him in the shoulder. He grunted in pain and bit back a cry. He threw the body to the side, taking its sword as well, and slid between the two, slashing their legs and ending one through the back, then the other through the throat. He dove over some barrels, rolled, and took cover there. Bullets struck them. He tipped one over and went behind it, shoving it with a shout towards a group of men who quickly moved to avoid it, giving him a break in the fire. The break was all he needed to charge from hiding and run one of them through with a scowl. He thrust the body off his blade, shook it off, then met the sword of another man facing him. He held it calmly, glaring into the other's eyes with a steely, merciless, unbothered glare. The man looked terrified. He always hated to see terror… He hated everything humanizing when he was in a war where your opponent wasn't supposed to be human… But they always were and he despised it.

"I'm sorry, but you should have kept it to yourself," he said, hardening his heart against the man and quickly dropping, tripping him and causing him to fall to the ground. He killed him then parried the strike of another man before seizing the body and whipping it around to take the bullets that had been meant for him. He dropped the body to the side and raced to the remaining ones on this ship. He slid, tripping one and knocking him down. He lunged upward, driving his blade through the stomach of the next who had left himself wide open trying to end his life. He threw the body to the side and returned to the previous one, finishing him off. He felt another bullet strike, this time in his side. He winced, biting back another cry, and spun, throwing himself at the offending party and tackling him to the ground before pinning him quickly and driving his blade into the chest. He scrambled quickly back against the wood sides of the ship, bullets from the next one over peppering it. He grimaced in pain, took a breath, then stood up quickly, pulling the gun he'd brought. He could pull this off with the blade alone, probably, but he was honestly curious about this new sort of weaponry he'd recently been introduced to. He wasn't great at it yet, but he could hit his targets. As proven when he took down two men, though probably hadn't killed them. It gave him the break he needed, though, to run to a mast and climb up it, seizing a rope so he could swing across to the other ship. They'd had the brains to pull away the bridge, so swinging was what he had to do now. It left him open to serious injury, he didn't expect he'd get across unscathed, but he had to get there one way or another.

He pushed off, swinging fast. Most bullets missed him, but one struck him in the hip. He let go of the rope, landing on the offender and ending him with his sword before finishing off the two he'd previously wounded and using one of the bodies as a meat shield. There was less cover here. It meant he would have to take full advantage of this method now, though he was loathe to. He didn't like the idea of desecrating bodies. It was a matter of honor and respect, though he reminded himself these men weren't exactly the sorts that deserved respect, given what they were guilty of. That made it easier to stomach, but not better by any means. He hurried towards the other opponents and threw the body into one of them before turning on the other, taking him out then spinning to get rid of the one he'd distracted with the body. He grabbed up another body in time to block more bullets and hoped none of them went through said body and into him, though by the time they got to him through the other body, his armor would probably be able to stop the ammunition in its tracks. He heard a couple metallic clangs and was more than relieved his theory had been correct. He threw the body off of himself then ran at them, leaping towards them and bringing them both down with him so the three of them were wrestling on the deck. What remnants were left were shooting, but it was a tangle of limbs and he was more than relieved when their friendly fire killed one of their allies and left him wrestling with just one. He quickly got the upper hand from there and moved swiftly behind the mast, using it as cover. He gritted his teeth and spun out from hiding, running towards them in a zigzag in order to avoid being shot.

The final two men he ended with two well placed attacks that dropped them instantly and left Lot standing covered in blood panting for breath. He swallowed, looked around for any others left, then finally allowed himself to shakily breathe, exhaling. He brushed his hair back and stumbled towards the gang plank to check on the captives. He froze at the top when he saw them all at the bottom looking up at him in wonder and relief like he was some kind of hero. Humph. Heroes didn't kill, he dryly said to himself. He shook his head. He'd never truly appreciated the truth in that statement, he noted to himself. He should have. Heroes didn't kill… But Knights did. You couldn't be both a hero and a knight. You couldn't be both a hero and a king. You couldn't be both a hero and a soldier… "Where is my daughter?!" he summoned the strength to shout down at them. They all pointed towards a distant ship.

He looked towards it and let out a breath. He saw his daughter on the deck, helping her obviously wounded husband to one of the lifeboats and preparing it for them. She helped her love into it before joining him and cutting the ropes, letting the dingy drop into the lake. She took the initiative to row them across the expanse, heading towards the island. Alexander joined her shortly after, when her own injuries stopped her part way there. Lot's stomach twisted at the sight. The two of them were floundering to bring that boat in. He wasn't exactly unscathed either, but he was better off than they were. He sighed and vaulted over the edge of the ship, splashing into the lake and swimming towards them. He grabbed the end of the boat and began pulling it with him as he kicked his way back to the island. Soredamer looked like she wanted to leap into his arms, but she'd have to wait for that. Alexander looked exceedingly grateful. Lot focused on the task at hand…

Frozen

The moment he pulled the boat to shore—not just him, but others who had hastened to help as well upon snapping out of their shock and relief—Soredamer was out of it and in his arms, sobbing against her father's chest as he held her tight, burying his fingers in her hair and closing his eyes, relishing in the feel of his daughter safe. Unharmed, no, but safe. For the time being. He shook his head, banishing thoughts of what she must have suffered here, and focused on the now. "Daddy, you're hurt," she whimpered.

"All three of us are," he deadpanned, looking Alexander over. The young man had it worse than he did. "What ringer were you run through?" he dryly asked.

Alexander grimaced. "Xe's elite. In an enclosed space," he answered in a mutter, flushing a bit.

Soredamer sniffed, pulling back, and looked over her father fearfully. "Papa, you need help. You and Alexander both."

"We've had worse," Lot replied. He eyed Alexander up dubiously. "I've had worse," he corrected dryly.

"I'm rusty," Alexander sheepishly defended.

"Clearly," Lot replied.

"Oh like you should have gotten hurt at all!" Alexander retorted.

"I was facing men with weapons I've never faced before, and the wounds that were inflicted by those weapons are the only ones I sustained," Lot answered with a smug smirk. Alexander seethed. He hated that he had to give his father-in-law that one.

"Stop it! Father, Alexander, please. Don't brush this off!" Soredamer insisted. "You aren't fooling me."

Lot shook his head and removed his cape, wrapping it quickly around his daughter on noticing her state of undress. "Let's get you home. And them. Then Alexander and I can be tended to. And you, Sora. Without argument."

"Yes sir," she agreed, bowing her head to him with a relieved breath.

"Who are you?" an awed voice asked from the ships. Lot and Alexander turned quickly. The pirate leader.

"Xe," Alexander realized.

Lot gave him a disbelieving look. Xe? That was… unique. He turned back to the pirate. "I took them on alone. The only ones not killed by my hand were the ones who had imprisoned my daughter on the ship over there," he said.

"And I will keep up my end of the bargain," the man bitterly replied. "But who are you?"

"My name is Lot. My son-in-law is Alexander, my daughter Soredamer," Lot answered. "Ask your rival pirate for further details on that matter. I'll offer no more." Xe frowned, looked around at the carnage, and decided he didn't want to play that game. He nodded for his men to part and let them through. They did so without question and Lot, handing his daughter back to her husband, took the lead out. They followed him, the captives taking up the rear silently, filled with nervous excitement to be going home again.